Politics Schmolitics

I frequent a site that belongs to a friend of mine. In light of the current political race, there is great deal of conversation about the getting-ever-so-heated race to the White House. Everyone who comments, from what I have seen, favor one candidate over the other. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. The problem I see is that there is this sentiment that if a person is not of the same political opinion, then that person is in some way not as smart as the rest of the enlightened folks. Call me crazy, but I often find myself playing devil's advocate for the opposing side.

You see, I believe in a fair fight. Even though we will more than likely agree on the candidate we're supporting in the end, I do not believe in blindly following any candidate. While I don't think my friend does this, I get the sense from some respondents that no matter what is said or done, their ears are completely closed to anything that is not in complete support of their chosen candidate. I think blind faith in a person is very dangerous. It's not just on that site either. I see and hear these exact things, just on the opposite side, with another group of people I'm friendly with.

Both sides consist of people who are highly intelligent, well-educated, well- read, and well-traveled. Yet, both sides will go to the death declaring that the other is misguided, unintelligent, and obviously out of touch with reality. Both sides tend to agree on one thing-- that the other is somehow not as highly evolved as they are.

So, where does the truth really lie? What really is in the best interest of the future of America? Both sides agree that there has to be change in some way. But, what is change? What does it look like? How elusive is it really that so many intelligent Americans cannot agree on it when they see it?

I'm so sick of people supposedly breaking down the issues in a nonpartisan way, while all the while including their slants and biases in creative wording as they break down the issues in a nonpartisan way. So, I'm going to break down the issues myself. I will include my opinions in a separate post after I present "just the facts." Maybe in doing so, we'll see which candidate really stands for what we stand for. Maybe there will even be a couple of surprises along the way. The election is a month away. Politically, that is an eternity.

I'm a pin cushion

Well, I've really gone and done it this time. If you know me at all, you know that I am a chronic shoulder-dislocater. For the past several weeks, I've been dealing with my latest dislocation-- the right shoulder this time, mind you. I apparently dislocated it while I slept. When Greg walked into the bedroom, the sound startled me, causing me to sit up quickly. That sudden movement is actually what popped it back into place.

I guess the good thing is that I already have shoulder immobilizers at home, so I was able to put it in a sling and go to work. As I walked through the halls, the fifth graders (My last year's fourth graders) simply replied, "Again?" Yes, again dammit! I guess it could have been worse, though. At least it went back in place without having to go to the hospital. I always hate when I cannot reset it because the paramedics have to come and they always ask the same questions repeatedly and look at poor Greg sideways because they think he's beating me up or something. In the midst of that excruciating pain, I always feel so sorry for my wonderful husband. He can't help me and people look at him like he's an abuser.

Anyway, one surgical group came very highly recommended by staff members as well as the nurse, so I agreed to see them. They were in network on the insurance and everything. However, I also researched and found another group that only deals with shoulder injuries. I liked the idea of them being shoulder specialists. They, too, were in network. I was really torn. What's a girl to do? I ended up going to see the group that was recommended by my peers. The people were nice enough, but the surgeon came in and said, "When I received my training, the only way to repair the shoulder of a chronic dislocater like yourself was to cut the whole thing open to fix it. Shoulder surgeries are much more advanced now. I can do your surgery, true, but you shouldn't want me to." Oooo-kaaaay. I appreciated the honesty and the fact that they were sending my paperwork ahead to a group of shoulder specialists they refer to and all, but still... What about my wasted copay?!

You already know where this conversation is going, don't you? I got the call from the shoulder specialists and... you guessed it. They were the same ones I considered calling in the first place! The doctor I'm scheduled to see is a former pro baseball player. I guess that's a neat thing. I just hope he is able to help me. I see him tomorrow afternoon, so I'll be able to update more after that.